These guys are still my all time favorite band and they continue not to disappoint. Essentially everything they've put out throughout their career is solid and worthy of listening, both by Christians and non-Christians alike. They are strong songwriters and musicians and shouldn't be ignored simply because of their faith. Great review!

i was literally just thinking to myself, "gee, maybe i should do a Jars review for AP.net". well done, sir, you pretty much nailed it on the head. christian rock sites seem to be overrating this album a fair bit, probably because it actually could pass for an actual indie rock album, something many christian acts fail to do today.

i was literally just thinking to myself, "gee, maybe i should do a Jars review for AP.net". well done, sir, you pretty much nailed it on the head. christian rock sites seem to be overrating this album a fair bit, probably because it actually could pass for an actual indie rock album, something many christian acts fail to do today.

but, no mention of 'two hands'?

Heh, I had a hard time not singling out almost every song from this album. I'll have to see if it keeps growing on me or if the initial shine wears off but it could definitely be a strong contender for my top 5 this year.

Even before I knew this album was coming out I rediscovered If I Left The Zoo earlier this year. They've had ups and downs and varied a bit, but solid stuff throughout their career, for sure. I even love that they put out a quality hymns album when the worship craze got going.

Heh, I had a hard time not singling out almost every song from this album. I'll have to see if it keeps growing on me or if the initial shine wears off but it could definitely be a strong contender for my top 5 this year.

Even before I knew this album was coming out I rediscovered If I Left The Zoo earlier this year. They've had ups and downs and varied a bit, but solid stuff throughout their career, for sure. I even love that they put out a quality hymns album when the worship craze got going.

ya, the Hymns release was a curveball no one really anticipated. the best and worst thing these guys did was write Worlds Apart so early in their career...i think it's literally the best song i've ever heard.

My perspective on the quality/value/usefulness of 'pop' music was changed not too long ago, by the idea that pop represents a sound that many people can gather around. While JoC seems to be leaning more and more on the 'hyper-refined' sound that audiophiles turn their noses up at, they remain on a short list of my all-time favorites. This is because they retain their core appeal (Charlie's compositions, Dan's vocal expressiveness, among other aspects) while pushing themselves stylistically to try new things. The Long Fall is by far their most successful attempt at this. They get to express themselves (a novel idea these days), mix and blend various styles (including the wicked awesome 80's, as mentioned), and tie it all into a sound that is, yes, pop - but the good kind of pop.